Robert E. Diamond Jr.

Honorary Degree Citation

Robert E. Diamond Jr. The son of a father who said, “Every day, you have to learn some and teach some” and a mother who gave you the tools to embrace a diverse world, you are the ideal product of their guidance and of a liberal arts education. Wide-ranging of thought. Eclectic in talents. Steadfast in your belief that merit and character are the twin pillars on which to build success. A global citizen. An exemplary colleague and mentor, husband and father, Colby leader. Friend and sounding board to two Colby presidents and generous benefactor whose gifts to the College have transformed the lives of students and faculty. You grew up in Concord, Massachusetts, and graduated from Colby in 1974 and went on to earn an M.B.A. at the University of Connecticut, where you also taught. Your first corporate job was in information technology administration at U.S. Surgical, but a shift to Morgan Stanley introduced you to the trading floor, where your aptitude for fast-paced, risky, exhilarating work was rewarded with ever-increasing responsibility. After thirteen years at Morgan Stanley, you joined Credit Suisse First Boston as head of global fixed income and foreign exchange. Now based in London and New York, you are president of Barclays PLC and chief executive officer of Barclays Capital, BGI, and Barclays Wealth Management. A believer in passing along to others the good fortune you have received, you are giving of your time and your resources. Among other commitments, you serve as a trustee of the American School in London, are a member of the advisory board of Cambridge University’s Judge School of Business, and are chairman of Old Vic Productions plc. You also are a member of Colby’s Board of Trustees and co-chair of Colby’s Reaching the World campaign. You have served with extraordinary distinction and have earned the unalloyed admiration of your colleagues and of the Colby faculty, staff, and students who have worked with you. And, representing what is perhaps your most personal gift to the College, you will become a Colby parent when your son Charles enrolls on Mayflower Hill in September.

By the authority of the Board of Trustees of Colby College, I confer upon you, Robert E. Diamond Jr., the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa. The hood with which you have been invested and this diploma which I place in your hand are visible symbols of your membership in this society of scholars, to all the rights and privileges of which I declare you entitled.

Conferred May 25, 2008

Robert E. Diamond Jr. ’73 is president of Barclays PLC and chief executive of Investment Banking and Investment Management, comprising Barclays Capital, Barclays Global Investors, and Barclays Wealth. He joined Barclays in 1996 and has been a member of the Barclays Group Executive Committee since 1997. Earlier he was vice chairman and head of Global Fixed Income and Foreign Exchange at Credit Suisse First Boston and was managing director and head of European/Asian Fixed Income Trading for Morgan Stanley International. A trustee of Colby and of the American School in London, he serves on the advisory board of the Judge Business School at Cambridge University and on the board of directors at the Institute of International Finance.

Office of the Vice President and Dean of Student Advancement,
4735 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, Maine 04901